PROBLEM GAMBLING IN ADULTS - AN OVERVIEW

As many countries are legalizing gambling, more and more individuals a re presenting for treatment of gambling problems. Similarly, more soph isticated theories and therapies are emerging for the prevention and a lleviation of problems associated with gambling. With this explosion o f information on gambling, there is now a need to comprehensively summ arize the available information. Therefore, the intention of this pape r is to provide a comprehensive overview of problem/pathological gambl ing in adults, with extensive review of epidemiological, aetiological and treatment variables involved in the development, maintenance and r ecovery from gambling problems. There is enough evidence to suggest th at gambling results from a complicated interaction of affective, cogni tive, behavioural and physiological variables. Given this interaction, a melding of treatment approaches, such as cognitive-behavioural ther apy (CBT) is advocated. Indeed, the available evidence supports the ef ficacy of CBT in the treatment of problems associated with gambling. ( C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.